“Our farm is the largest acreage affected,” said Sandy’s husband Terry in an interview to the Chattanooga Times Free Press. “TVA does not want to admit that the spill has devastated our lives, tainted our land and reduced our livelihood to a fraction of what it was before the spill.”

The Guptons herd Gelvy cattle on their land, and worried for their cattle’s safety after the TVA’s coal ash pond failed last December and dumped more than a billion gallons of coal ash on to 300 acres of an east Tennessee community. Now, they are worrying about their own health. “We have both tested positive for heavy metals in our bodies,” Terry said. “We both have increased respiratory problems with asthma… We feel that we need to relocated to get away from the spill site.”

Coal ash contains dangerous toxins such as arsenic and lead, which have been associated with increased risk of cancer, liver damage and other serious health problems. When it rains, coal ash sludge backs up on to the Gupton’s pastures. As it dries, the ash flies into the air.

“I wouldn’t want to inhale either of these things for a long period of time — or even a short period of time if I had lung problems,” said Gregory V. Button, a University of Tennessee at Knoxville professor and medical anthropologist, in the news report. “There’s a lot of possibility here for exposing large populations with what may be very high concentrations of ash contaminated with a combination of toxic materials.”

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Family worries about cattle, health, livelihood after coal ash spill

“We are trying to balance between doing the right thing by the people that were impacted by this (and) keeping in mind that this is ratepayer money,” TVA senior vice president Peyton Hairston told The Associated Press last week.

The buyout is part of a massive cleanup and recovery effort by the nation’s largest utility after its Kingston, Tennessee, impoundment pond failed, dumping more than a billion gallons of coal ash sludge onto 300 acres of a rural, east Tennessee community. The sludge piled as high as eight feet in some areas and knocked several homes off their foundations.

TVA received more than 200 requests from property owners wiling to sell property they felt was affected or devalued by the spill, and is deciding which properties warrant buying out. “As we work through this process we have to be able to determine that some people are just outside the area that we feel has been impacted,” Hairston said.

But critics say that even those whose property didn’t suffer immediate damage may still suffer ill effects from the spill, from diminished home values to noise pollution from the 20-hour-per-day cleanup crews. But at higher concern is the environmental issues that may arise as coal ash sludge seeps into the ground, pours into the Emory River, and flies into the wind as it dries up. Coal ash may contain toxins that can lead to serious health conditions such as cancer, liver damage and neurological disorders. Several residents in the area also have complained of respiratory problems and heightened anxiety since the spill.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › TVA leaves some coal ash spill victims high and dry

However, the method for the regulation of coal ash has come under scrutiny after a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) impoundment pond failed last December and dumped more than a billion gallons of coal ash sludge over 300 acres of an east Tennessee community, destroying homes and damaging property in its wake. Both residents and environmentalists began asking questions about the toxic material that had poured into the neighboring Emory River and heaped as much as nine feet high in some areas.

Since 2000, improved pollution controls have kept toxins from leaving smokestacks and thus have increased the amount of toxins in coal ash, says Rhon Jones, Toxic Torts Section Head with Beasley Allen law firm. The material may contain arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese and barium which can contribute to dangerous health conditions such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications, to name a few.

Many residents in the area already have complained of respiratory problems and half reported experiencing increased stress and anxiety. “In addition, EPA has improved testing which reveals toxins are leaching into groundwater more than originally thought,” Jones adds.

To date, EPA has found groundwater contaminated with heavy metals from coal ash dumps at 63 sites. An independent report asserts that nearly 100 coal ash dumps across the United States pose similar or even greater potential dangers than the TVA Kingston plant, Jones says.

“On March 9, 2009, EPA sent a survey to the 163 utilities that manage approximately 300 coal ash ponds in the U.S. The survey calls for plant operators to provide information about coal ash pond design, engineering, and inspections and to list any spills or unauthorized releases within the last decade. While a step in the right direction, EPA’s survey does not ask for information on whether the coal ash ponds are lined, whether the ponds have water collection systems to catch toxins leached from the ash, or whether groundwater monitors are in place near the ponds,” Jones says.

After survey results are reviewed, EPA plans to follow up with on-site visits and order improvements where the ponds are found to be unsafe.

In response to the December 22, 2008 coal ash spill in Kingston, Tennessee, the EPA committed to propose new regulations governing coal combustion waste by the end of 2009. The EPA also committed to act immediately to prevent accidents such as the TVA spill in Kingston.

“The Kingston, Tennessee, spill and others like it show the need for strict standards on how this waste is disposed. In addition to EPA’s renewed interest in regulating coal ash disposal, the U.S. Congress is looking into the spill,” Jones says. “Hopefully, these actions by EPA and Congress will either increase safety near these facilities, require alternative methods of disposal, or both.”

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Coal combustion sites need government regulations

The Tennessee Department of Environment and Conservation (TDEC) ordered total remediation so that the utility must clean up the site completely. That cleanup effort is so massive it could take years to complete and is estimated to cost the utility between $525 million and $825 million.

“It is unlikely that the land can be fully restored to conditions present before the spill,” says Rhon Jones, Toxic Torts Section Head with Beasley Allen law firm. “It will take a long time for the area to heal, and the long-term effects may not be known entirely for some time.”

Coal ash may contain dangerous toxins such as arsenic, lead, chromium, manganese and barium which can contribute to dangerous health conditions such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications, to name a few. Many residents already have complained of respiratory problems and half reported experiencing increased stress and anxiety.

The TVA has offered buyouts to many of the victims of the coal ash spill, “but it is unclear whether residents, in their desperation to leave the hazardous conditions, are getting fair deals,” Jones says. “Our firm is working on behalf of individuals and a class of clients. Through these cases, we are working to 1) Bring about a complete cleanup of the area; 2) Ensure that our clients are fully compensated for the damage to their property (including their property values); and, 3) Obtain long-term medical monitoring relief for area residents who have been exposed to the dangerous contaminants in TVA’s coal ash sludge. “

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Coal ash victims may not get the compensation they deserve

AlterNet.org

More than a billion gallons of coal ash sludge spilled over 300 acres of community property and into the Emory River last December after a coal ash impoundment pond at the TVA’s Kingston, Tennessee coal-burning plant failed. Coal ash contains dangerous toxins such as arsenic and lead which can lead to serious health concerns such as cancer, liver damage and neurological disorders.

Since the spill, the TVA has undergone a $1 million a day cleanup effort that is expected to ring in between $525 million and $825 million. TVA has vowed to restore the land to as good, if not better, than new.

However, residents are skeptical. Many have complained of breathing problems and at least one young child has tested positive for heavy metal in his blood. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) tests of water near a drinking water treatment plant the day after the spill showed alarming amounts of arsenic – 149 times higher than allowed by federal drinking water standards.

While the government is claiming that water treatment facilities can effectively filter tap water for toxins, some residents say that they have noticed a gray film in their tap water and have experienced a burning sensation on their skin and in their eyes after taking a shower.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Drinking water may be contaminated by coal ash spill

Since the spill, the TVA has spent a reported $1 million a day to clean up the mess, estimating its total cleanup cost to ring in between $525 million and $825 million. Clean up efforts include building temporary dams to stop the flow in neighboring waterways, dusting grass seed on dry land to keep the fly ash at bay, and, most recently, dredging the nearby Emory River. The TVA has vowed to restore the land to its previous condition, though affected property owners and environmental groups remain skeptical.

Last month, a smaller spill occurred when a pipeline at a coal-burning plant ruptured, leaking 4,000 gallons of coal ash into the Potomac River and fanning the flames of concern from lawmakers of the safety and lack of federal regulation of coal ash impoundments.

TVA president and CEO Tom Kilgore, Congressman Lincoln Davis and representatives from the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) are among those who testified to members of the House subcommittee on Water Resources and Environment as part of the committee’s investigation into why such spills occurred.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Congressional committee to ask ‘why’ coal ash spills occur

The TVA launched a massive cleanup effort which includes dredging the Emory River to remove the ash and spreading grass seed over the affected land to keep the ash from flying about. The cleanup operation is costing the TVA about $1 million per day and is expected to ring in between $525 million and $825 million before the cleanup is complete and the land is restored.

The TVA also admitted publicly that it should have been more forthcoming about the possible dangers of the coal ash from the beginning. Since then, the utility has made efforts to keep the public informed of cleanup efforts through community meetings and the media.

Regardless, the cleanup has come under scrutiny by both environmental groups and community members who want more oversight and environmental studies performed.

Source:
WBIR-TV

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › TVA hosts second community open house about coal ash spill

This is the sixth federal lawsuit filed against the TVA as a result of the utility’s coal ash pond breach last December that flooded an east Tennessee community with more than a billion gallons of coal ash sludge. Not only did the massive spill destroy houses and damage property, it also poured into the neighboring Emory River. Coal ash contains toxic material such as arsenic, lead, barium, manganese and chromium, which can be harmful to human health.

This latest lawsuit against the utility claims the TVA “submitted a vague, misleading and piecemeal environmental assessment and remediation plan which, in significant places, massaged the data and blatantly removed to avoid real and appropriate vigorous scrutiny.”

The TVA claims that it has been open about its cleanup efforts by posting updates on its Web site. A U.S. magistrate judge has set a hearing on the issue for April 29th.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Residents ask judge to halt TVA’s cleanup efforts

The spill dumped more than a billion gallons of coal ash sludge on to 300 acres in an east Tennessee community. Dozens of homes were destroyed or damaged and property was left a mess. Aside from the physical damage, homeowners in the area are concerned of the risk to human life.

Coal ash contains dangerous toxins such as arsenic and lead that can cause serious health issues such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications. Several homeowners in the area already have complained of respiratory problems.

The cleanup already has taken months and could cost the utility between $525 million and $825 million, according to earlier reports. A cleanup plan that included the dredging effort was outlined in a report submitted by the TVA and approved by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The utility vows to restore the property to its original condition, but homeowners wonder if doing so is even possible, given the magnitude of the spill.

More than 100 property owners have filed federal lawsuits against the TVA, but many residents who live closes to the spill have opted to either reach settlements with the TVA or say they plan to wait things out.

Sources:
News Channel 5
iStock Analyst

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Dredging begins at Tennessee coal ash spill site

President

According to Kentucky.com, “The Department of Energy will soon announce whether it will use $1 billion in stimulus funds to resurrect FutureGen, a proposal to create in Illinois the world’s first coal-fired power plant designed to capture and bury carbon emissions underground.” The Bush administration decided against building the plant because it would cost more than $1.8 billion. The Government Accountability Office says that price tag is more like $1.3 billion. Proponents of “clean coal” argue that  not building that plant put the effort back a decade.

Renewable resources are front-and-center with lawmakers these days, after a Tennessee Valley Authority (TVA) coal ash pond failed last December, dumping more than a billion gallons of toxic coal ash sludge on to an east Tennessee community. Previously unregulated by the federal government, coal ash ponds and storage units will soon have to follow standards outlined by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for regulating coal ash.

The economic stimulus plan has $3.4 billion for the coal industry, as opposed to $16.8 billion for renewable energy and efficiency programs. The Obama administration also is says it will implement a program that would cap companies’ carbon emissions.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Obama administration focuses on clean coal practices

The spill originated from a small hole in one of NewPage Corp.’s pipelines that cross the Potomac. The leak began about 8 p.m. Sunday night and continued to leak until 6 a.m. Monday morning.

The spill is just a fraction of the size of the one caused when the Tennessee Valley Authority impoundment pond failed and oozed toxic coal ash into a rural Tennessee neighborhood and into the nearby Emory River. But Maryland state regulators are still concerned of the potential environmental problems the leak may cause.

Coal ash could contain high concentrations of selenium, sulfate, arsenic, iron and manganese, which can contribute to serious health problems such as cancer, liver damage and neurological complications. The Tennessee spill has already caused many locals to complain of respiratory problems, and a young child in the area recently tested positive for heavy metals.

The storage and disposal of coal ash is not currently regulated, but Environmental Protection Agency officials have vowed since the TVA spill to draft rules for coal ash storage and disposal.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › 4,000 gallons of coal ash pour into Potomac River

“I fear for my friends and all the people living below this coal sludge dam,” Gary Anderson, a resident who lives near the mountain site, told the media. “Blasting beside the dam, over underground mines, could decimate the valley for miles. The ‘experts’ said that the Buffalo Creek sludge dam was safe, but it failed. They said that the TVA sludge dam was safe, but it failed. Massey is setting up an even greater catastrophe here.”

The protest was manned by residents and organized by pan-Appalachian Mountain Justice and Climate Ground Zero. Organizations such as the Civil Society Institute and theCLEAN.org joined in on the fight. Those against the blasting are urging the mountaintop removal be replaced by a wind farm, arguing that a wind farm would provide more tax revenue and more jobs over time.

Experts worry that if the dam at Coal River Mountain experienced the same fate as the TVA coal ash pond in December, thousands more people could be affected and far more property destroyed.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › W Va residents worry that blasting could cause massive spill

The memo was apparently sent to the AP by accident, according to their report. They say the memo shows additions and deletions that change more alarming language to tone down the sense of urgency and threat resulting from the coal ash spill.

An example cited by the AP story says the word “catastrophic” was changed to “sudden, accidental release” when describing the spill that flooded more than 300 acres surrounding the energy production plant with toxic coal ash sludge.

While environmentalists are pointing to the memo as evidence that TVA is trying to cover up the seriousness of the situation, TVA representatives say that they were simply trying to present accurate information as they understood it at the beginning of the crisis, the AP reports. As the situation developed, the TVA says it modified its information to upgrade the severity of the situation, the report states.

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Early TVA memo indicates effort to minimize coal ash disaster

December 30, 2008

The online environmental community is abuzz with reports of all kinds about the coal ash sludge spill in Tennessee, ranging from first-hand accounts to health concerns to worries about coal in general. Twitter in particular has been a place where people have been posting news stories and concerns.

A local blog also posted before and after photos of the affected area.

Joe Romm blogs at ClimateProgress that the muck has a lot of people worried about how easy it would be for another such spill to happen:

Coal ash deposits in the USA are now under renewed scrutiny after a giant spill just before Christmas released 5.4 million cubic yards of toxic sludge into Tennessee waterways. Water tests near the spill from the Kingston Fossil Plant showed elevated levels of lead and thallium, which can cause birth defects and nervous and reproductive system disorders. The spill muddied the waters in the Emory river and is flowing into tributaries of the Tennessee River – the water supply for Chattanooga and millions of people living downstream in Alabama, Tennessee and Kentucky.

So now a big question mark hangs over the hundreds of coal plants all across the country which store their fly ash in unlined embankments and ponds — like the one that failed last week. Most are situated near rivers that supply water needed by the coal plants to operate.

The NY Times reported that in the US, coal plants produce 129 million tons of postcombustion byproducts a year. It’s the second-largest waste stream in the country, after municipal solid waste, and it’s storage and handling is unregulated. Who knew?

Source: Huffington Post

SOURCE: Coal Ash Spill › Tennessee Coal Ash Spill Before And After — And What’s Next